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Biography

Marin was born to a noble family that had 6 children. By his family tradition it was said his family originated from Italy, Taranto, in the 8th century. Renowned for the application of algebra in geometry and his research in the field of geometrical optics on which, he wrote 7 works, including the Promotus Archimedus (1603) and the De resolutione et compositione mathematica (1630). He also produced a pamphlet with the solutions of 42 geometrical problems, Variorum problematum colletio, in 1607 and set grounds of algebraization of geometry. His contributions to geometry had been cited by Dutch physicistChristian Huygens and Edmond Halley (Halley's comet) in England.

He was also engaged in politics and was the envoy of the Republic of Ragusa in Constantinople in 1606 as well as the member of the Great and Small Council, the political bodies of the Republic. He was married to Marija Sorkočević Getaldić, who died giving birth to their third daughter; they had three daughters: Anica, Franica and Marija Getaldić.

Dubrovnik

Two notable localities in the Dubrovnik (Ragusa) are associated with the name of Getaldić: Bete's Cave, named after Marin's nickname, where he conducted experiments with igniting mirrors; and Pozvizd, a key strategic tower in the Ston fortification system which he was commissioned to build by the authorities of the Republic of Ragusa in 1604.